CENTRAL, S.C. – The Southern Wesleyan University Warrior's women's basketball couldn't keep pace with No. 16 Bethel (Tenn.) on Saturday afternoon, falling 96-76 in Tysinger Gym.

The Warriors shot 51-percent from the floor but 20 first half turnovers gave the Wildcats too much cushion for SWU (2-3, 1-1 SSAC) to overcome.  Bethel (5-2, 1-1 SSAC) seized control early with a 21-4 run in the first six minutes and never looked back.  The Warriors were unable to ever get the deficit back to single digits.

Cayse Branyon led the Warriors with 16 points, all in the second half and made 5-of-6 from the field.  The freshman made 6-of-8 from the free throw line as the Warriors showed great heart in the second half to cut the lead to 12 at 79-67 with just over six minutes left.  That was part of a 7-0 run for the Warriors.

In the end the Wildcats were too much as they pushed the lead back out to 22.  Their largest lead came at 25 early in the second half.  Jackliann Street led all scorers with 25 points and also grabbed six rebounds.  Kenyatta Drake recorded a double-double for the Wildcats with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

The Warriors were able to keep pace by getting to the foul line 37 times, making 21.  To go along with Branyon's 16 points, Michelle Anaya and Christiana Perkins added 12 points each.  The Wildcats dominated on the glass, pulling down 44 total rebounds and 23 on the offensive glass to make up for shooting 44-percent.  Bethel made 10-of-27 from three point range while the Warriors made just 3-of-9.

SWU will hit the road next weekend for another SSAC crossover, this time to play Blue Mountain on Friday and Martin Methodist on Saturday.